Company on Liverpool’s waterfront is home to the BT Convention Centre, Echo Arena, Exhibition Centre Liverpool, Pullman Liverpool hotel and TicketQuarter. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool’s waterfront arena, convention centre and exhibition centre has generated its highest annual revenues since it opened in 2008.
ACC Liverpool, home to BT Convention Centre, Echo Arena, Exhibition Centre Liverpool, Pullman Liverpool hotel and TicketQuarter, saw turnover surge 50% to £25.8m for the year to March 31, 2017, compared to £17.2m a year earlier.
During the period, 258 events took place attracting more than 660,000 delegates and visitors. An estimated £204m in economic benefit was generated for the Liverpool city region bringing the overall economic impact since the complex opened to more than £1.4bn.
Conference highlights included the Labour Party conference and a series of international congresses such as the Union World Conference on Lung Health and the European Association for International Education.
Entertainment performances included Sir Elton John, Little Mix and Strictly Come Dancing. Exhibition Centre Liverpool hosted 25 events including the International Business Festival and The Allergy and Free From Show.
The results recorded by The ACC Liverpool Group show an improved trading profit position and an operating loss of £582,000, after adjustment for the impact of the latest valuation of the company pension scheme.
Bob Prattey, chief executive of The ACC Liverpool Group, said: “The financial year 2016 – 17 was a year of rapid expansion for The ACC Liverpool Group with turnover increasing.
“This was in part due to the first full year of trading for Pullman Liverpool and Exhibition Centre Liverpool, coupled with strong performance and growth in our existing markets, which has been made possible due to the additional space available with the completion of Exhibition Centre Liverpool.
“We are forecasting a further increase in revenues as we continue to expand our business and host major events.
“The operating loss of £582,000 we are reporting for 2016 – 17 masks an improved underlying trading performance and we expect this to continue to improve during the current year 2017-18.”